Murder victim Vicky Howton was found at this residence at 1630 9th Court in Haleyville.

HALEYVILLE - What began Thursday, Aug. 30 as a missing person’s report quickly turned into a murder scene on Aug. 31. Vicky Denise Howton, 53, was found deceased and hidden in the bedroom closet at 1630 9th Court.

Caleb Pruitt sold 78 plates for the Big Jerry’s Fundraiser and was awarded the “Do a Good Turn Daily” coin.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - Caleb Pruitt, age 8, is going to be a natural born salesman when he grows up. The third grader was honored Monday, Aug. 20, at the Double Springs Cub Scouts Pack 92 meeting, for selling 78 plates for the Big Jerry’s Fundraiser.

City council members approve the Coach Safely resolution. Shown from left are Richard Bittinger, Jonathan Bennett, Mayor Ken Sunseri, G. Blue Russell and Royce Benefield. Not shown is Drew Thrasher.

HALEYVILLE - The Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Haleyville have entered into a partnership with the Coach Safely Foundation. The resolution was passed at the council meeting on Sept. 4.

Andrew McCay gives the budget hearing at the Winston County Board of Education meeting.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - The Winston County Board of Education held their first budget hearing at the regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 28, with anticipated revenue and budgeting expenditures staying close to the same amount.

BEAR CREEK - Allegations of misspending of funds in the Town of Bear Creek has been raised to a new level, with an active investigation now underway by the State Bureau of Investigation. The SBI has been making visits to the Bear Creek Town Hall/Water Works building, seen in photo, as part of their investigation.

Winston County Transportation Supervisor Jeff Hendrix monitors the status of buses in the county fleet that already have the Zonar system installed.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - Winston County Schools have invested in even stronger student and staff safety features while on buses, thanks to the Zonar system, which tracks buses with location reports, rider status and driver performance, as well as other web-based features during routes.

City Engineer Calvin Cassady recommends certain paving projects to the mayor and council under the revolving loan. Also shown is City Attorney Jeff Mobley.

HALEYVILLE - Several areas in need of paving are being eyed in the industrial section of Haleyville, now that the city has learned they can apply for up to $150,000 in a revolving loan project through the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments.

WINSTON COUNTY - The U.S. Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill four positions on the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee to serve national forests across the Southeast. The committee is tasked with reviewing fee proposals for the forests in 13 southern states and Puerto Rico and recommending fee changes.

Haleyville Acting City Clerk Christy Harbin reports the first box to arrive at City Hall Tuesday night, Aug. 28, during results of the BOE election. Shown is Delmar representative Tony Brakefield.

HALEYVILLE - Results from the election for places two and three of the Haleyville Board of Education Tuesday night, Aug. 28, showed Place 2 Incumbent Barry Burleson winning over opponent Beth Sunseri Moore in a close race.

HALEYVILLE - One hundred years. That’s how old Waldrop Free Will Baptist Church will be on Sunday, Aug. 26, with the celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. That’s 36,525 days or 52,596,000 minutes, and the church plans on celebrating many more years to come.

MONTGOMERY - Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $791,838 to increase patrols and other highway safety measures in north Alabama during Labor Day weekend and other major traveling holidays during the next year.

LAKESHORE - A vehicle has reportedly crashed into a business off of Highway 278 in the Lakeshore area at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1. Central and Double Springs Firefighters and other first responders have been dispatched to the scene. Please avoid the area if at possible.

Haleyville Middle School Principal Bo Wilcoxson instructs a test driver on the proper way of maneuvering through the parking lot under the new drop off and pickup pattern of traffic.

HALEYVILLE -The start of a new year for Haleyville City Schools on Wednesday, Aug. 8, will mean a major change in student drop offs for the middle school, not just during hectic first-day traffic, but throughout the school year.

The former Traders & Farmers Bank building in Arley is being considered as a site for a possible senior center for residents.

ARLEY - The former location of Traders & Farmers Bank, which has sat vacant for several years, is being eyed as the location for the Town of Arley’s first senior citizen center, as those behind the planning recently approached the Arley Town Council with their requests.

Addison Elementary Principal Jeff Scott with Pre-kindergarten teacher Liz Brannon, far left, and Jennifer Woodard. who were funded under the first pre-K program.

ADDISON - After a successful pre-kindergarten program the past two years at Addison Elementary, the school will proudly kick off their second pre-K program when school starts Wednesday, Aug. 8, thanks to a second $120,000 grant.

ADDISON - There is a report of a one-vehicle accident on County Road 39 between Sardis-Airport Road and County Road 80 Monday, July 30, at approximately 2 p.m. Please avoid this area as first responders go to the scene.

HALEYVILLE - A net loss for the Haleyville Water and Sewer Board is due to depreciation according to an audit by Rick McCabe, owner of McCabe and Associates of Fayette, it was learned at the recent board meeting on Tuesday, July 24.

Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri, left, and Lane Bates, general manager of the Haleyville Water and Sewer Department, are on 7th Avenue, where a portion of the proposed major water/sewer line project will take place.

HALEYVILLE - The time has come to update water and sewer lines and freshly pavie areas of 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th avenues, thanks to a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant, which would be funded as a partnership between the City of Haleyville and the water department.

HALEYVILLE - Effective July 26, the Thursday hours for the Haleyville Farmers Market, located at Rocky Ravine Park in Haleyville, will return to 6 a.m. until noon. The hours have been from 3-5:30 p.m. on Thursdays only this summer. The farmers market is also open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 6 a.m. until noon.

HALEYVILLE - Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri held a weather meeting with department heads Friday, July 20, ahead of what weather officials were predicting as a severe weather situation much more common to the spring than summer.

Law enforcement agencies respond to where the stolen truck was located.

LYNN/NAUVOO - A vehicle stolen from a business in the Delmar area ended up in Lynn, after it ran out of gas, and the driver was believed to have cut a fuel line to a resident’s vehicle, before he was taken into custody.

LYNN - The Town of Lynn is acquiring ten acres of land in the hopes of expanding the ballfields in the future. At the town meeting on Monday, July 16, 2018, a motion was made and passed to purchase the land from Travis Mobley in the amount of $15,000.

From left, Cory Williamson, receptionist at the Double Springs Elementary School office, Principal Keith Hood, Winston County Schools Security Supervisor Danny Springer and Superintendent Greg Pendley at the door where the buzz-in intercom system has been installed.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - In efforts to increase student safety, all schools across the Winston County School district are installing buzz-in systems, where the only method of entry into the buildings will be through intercom communication with the receptionist.